Pacific governments can improve the performance of their state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and reduce fiscal risks by implementing clearer and more consistent government ownership and oversight arrangements, according to a policy brief published on 24 June by the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB’s) Pacific Private Sector Development Initiative (PSDI).
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Wednesday 25 June 2025
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Sydney, Australia
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Wednesday 25 June 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A high-level Parliamentary delegation from the Legislative Assembly is visiting Australia, from June 21 to 28, as part of an Australia-led initiative aimed at enhancing regional cooperation and strengthening bilateral relations.
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Wednesday 25 June 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Amy Leger (35) who worked as a nanny for the King’s niece and her family received a suspended sentence for three counts of forgery and one of theft when over three months in 2023, she withdrew a total of $10,000 pa'anga by using her employer's pre-signed blank cheques without authorisation.
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Tuesday 24 June 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga's National Health Information System remains locked by hackers who hijacked the system nine days ago on 15 June. Medical staff cannot access the system, while the hackers are demanding a ransom from the Tonga Government. The Minister of Health said today that their inability to access recent medical history of patients is a concern but because Tonga is small the doctors know their chronic patients and can continue giving treatments.
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Tuesday 24 June 2025
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A sports team consisting of 48 people, including athletes, coaches and staff, is set to represent the Kingdom in the Palau Mini Games from 29 June-9 July 2025. The archery team including manager Hekisou Fifita and coach Hans Jensen were the first to depart Tongatapu for Palu today. (Team list added).
Tuesday 24 June 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Repeat offender Sati’o Matakaiongo (43) is serving 18 months imprisonment for possession of 43.07 grams of cannabis seized in Popua. His 23 year old co-accused received a suspended sentence in the Fasi Magistrate's Court.
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Tuesday 24 June 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Ms. Tai'atu 'Ata'ata of Kolomotu'a, will chair a new Public Service Commission (PSC) Board, with four other board members appointed by the Prime Minister Hon. 'Aisake Eke yesterday, 23 June, at St. George Government Building, Nuku'alofa.
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Monday 23 June 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga’s Legislative Assembly has unanimously approved a record TOP$992.8 million national budget for the 2025/26 financial year, on Thursday, 19 June, at the Parliament Chamber in Nuku’alofa. The new budget will be effective on 1 July, 2205.
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Monday 23 June 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Nine Non-Resident Ambassadors to Tonga presented their credentials to King Tupou VI, during ‘Diplomatic Week’ on 19 and 20 June, at the Royal Palace in Nuku’alofa.
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Friday 20 June 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Prime Minister of Tonga, Hon. Dr ‘Aisake Eke said: “All of us are seriously alarmed,” in response to Tonga being targeted for US travel bans, as one of 36 countries on a list reportedly issued by the Trump Administration last weekend.
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Friday 20 June 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga’s National Health Information System is a victim of hackers who are demanding a ransom from the Tonga Government to release the nation’s medical records and health plans, the Minister of Health revealed this afternoon.
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Friday 20 June 2025
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Digicel Tonga is proud to announce its support initiatives for the people of Ha’apai as they prepare to host the Free Wesleyan Church Conference. “This is one of the largest events ever held in the Ha’apai community. At Digicel Tonga, we wish to offer the best to our customers and community and so we’re thrilled to add 40% additional capacity into the network, as well as ensuring that we have people onsite to service customers over the week. We wish the Ha’apai community a fruitful conference,” said Digital CEO, Daniel Horan today.
Friday 20 June 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Peace Corps Tonga welcomed 14 new trainees with a traditional Tongan ‘Ouau Kava (Kava Ceremony) in Tongatapu today, 20 June 2025.
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Thursday 19 June 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A 38-year-old male from Ngele’ia was arrested by Tonga Police's Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) and charged for possession of illicit drugs and drug utensils on Tuesday, 17 June 2025.
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Wednesday 18 June 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
‘Asaeli Niu’ila (96) who resides in Wellington, was successful in his action to evict occupants from his town allotment in Niutoua, after being granted judgment in the Nuku'alofa Land Court on 18 June. The judge said that this was an unfortunate case, where one of the defendants had simply misunderstood the arrangement between the plaintiff and his late parents or was misled as to his interests or rights over this land.
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Wednesday 18 June 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Over $185,000 AUD worth of biosecurity equipment was handed over to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry today, 18 June 2025. The equipment was funded under a PACER Plus trade agreement to help enhance Tonga's Sanitary and Phytosanitary Systems.
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Wednesday 18 June 2025
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Suva, Fiji
The Women in Media (WiM) Fiji inaugural media conference this week in Suva, is bringing together participants from Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands, Niue, and Kiribati.
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Tuesday 17 June 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Three earthquakes between magnitudes 6.0 to 6.7 were felt in Tonga during May. They were the largest of 119 earthquakes that occurred within our region during the month.
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Tuesday 17 June 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga is hosting the 27th Pacific Immigration Development Community (PIDC) annual conference, officially opened today, 17 June, by HRH Tupouto’a ‘Ulukalala at the Fa’onelua Convention Center in Nuku'alofa. Tonga last hosted the PIDC conference 22 years ago, in 2003.
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Tuesday 17 June 2025
Melbourne, Australia
The “AUKUS” partnership, the 2021 deal whereby the United States and the United Kingdom agreed to provide Australia with at least eight nuclear-propelled submarines over the next three decades, has come under review by the US Defense Department. The prospect of its collapse has generated predictable handwringing among those who welcomed the deepening alliance, and especially among those interested in seeing Australia inject billions of dollars into underfunded, underperforming American and British naval shipyards. But in Australia, an AUKUS breakdown should be a cause for celebration. - Gareth Evans.
